PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION AND TRADITIONAL CAMEL (CAMELUS DROMEDARIES) SELECTION AND BREEDING PRACTICES IN PASTORAL COMMUNITIES OF JARAR AND KORAHEY ZONES, ETHIOPIAN-SOMALI REGIONAL STATE

Abstract

This study was carried out in Jarar and Korahey zones of Ethiopian Somali Region with the objectives to phenotypically characterize indigenous camel population in the area, identify the camel traditional breeding strategies, objectives and their challenges. Field study and data collection were done through questionnaires, focus group discussions, observations and linear body measurements taken from sample camels in the study areas. A total of 360 household head camel owners and 420 mature camels (360 females and 60 Males) randomly selected from six purposively selected study districts from the two zones were used. Results showed that average camel number per household was higher in Sheykosh (94±11.5), followed by Kebridehar (77±6.8) and Gashamo (60±5.1) woreda. The average proportion of female camel above one year of age in a herd ranges from 56.9 to 62% while the total average proportions of female camel per household including female calves ranges from 75 to 80.9% in the study areas. Larger proportion of female camels shows that milk production is the priority trait of interest for the pastoral communities and indicates their breeding objective of ensuring continuous supply of milk to the family. The overall mean milk production performance in the study areas in terms of lactation length and milk offtake during wet and dry seasons was 12.79±.23 months, 6.36±.085kgs/day/camel and 3±0.04 kgs/day/camel, respectively. Similarly, the reproductive performance in terms of Reproductive Life Time (RLT) of male and female camels, age at first mating (AFM) of male and female camels, age at first calving (AFC) and Calving Interval (CI) of female camels were 17.92±.42 and 20.03±.26 years, 5.95±.03 and 4.22±.021 years, 5.26±.023 years and 23.13±.43 months, respectively. Pastoral camel owners in the study areas practice selection only for male camels based on the male camels or ancestors’ ability to give birth to more female offspring (38.3%), color and appearance of male camel (27.2%), size and body condition (21.1%), libido (8.9%) and growth (4.4%) traits. Five distinct camel breed types namely Hoor, Gellab, Aidin, Ayun and Ayro inhabiting in the study zones were identified. Pairwise comparisons of all five-camel breed types for 17 morphometric traits showed a significant (P<0.05) difference among the breed types. Gellab camel breed types have significantly (P<0.05) higher Shoulder Height (SH), Neck Length (NL) and Ear Length (EL) where as Aidin breed types exhibited a significantly (P<0.05) higher Hearth Girth (HG), Chest Depth (CD), Tail Length (TL), Hump Length (HL) and Estimated Live Body Weight (ELBWt)) and the Ayro camels possess significantly (P<0.05) higher Chest Width (CW), Fore Leg Length (FLL) and Hump Circumference (HC) than any of the other camel breed types. The greatest morphological divergence was recorded between Aidin and Ayro breed types followed by Aidin and Gellab while the least divergence was recorded between Hoor and Ayun followed by Hoor and Aidin. Pastoral camel owners in the study area catagorized Hoor, Gellab and Ayun camel breed types as pure and Aidin and Ayro as crossbreds. Aidin is a crossbred from Hoor and Gellab while Ayro is cross from Hoor and Ayun. Even though such camel genetic resource diversities exist in the study area, the traditional breeding practices of only selecting male camel (stud) for breeding instead of both male and female camels and using the male camel (Stud) for longer breeding periods might result in genetic erosion as a result of inbreeding effects. Therefore; raising the pastoral communities awareness and knowledge on inbreeding and designing and implementing improved camel breeding programs has a paramount importance and recommended as far as sustainable utilization of camel genetic resources in the area is concerned.